Game On Dude sharpens for Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Game On Dude, who won the final two runnings of the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park in 2012 and 2013, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Wednesday in preparation for the first Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28.

While the Gold Cup’s venue has changed following the closure of Hollywood Park last December, one thing remains the same – Game On Dude will be favored.

The list of expected rivals for Game On Dude in the Grade 1, $500,000 Gold Cup has grown to eight with the likely inclusion of recent allowance race winner Footbridge. Other candidates are Clubhouse Ride, Fury Kapcori, Imperative, Lideris, Majestic Harbor, and Salto del Indio.

Clubhouse Ride, Fury Kapcori, and Majestic Harbor were first, second, and third in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes here May 31.

Imperative won the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April, finishing a head in front of Game On Dude. In March, Imperative was seventh behind Game On Dude in the Santa Anita Handicap, a race Game On Dude has won three times.

Game On Dude, 7, has won 16 of 32 starts and earned $6,408,893.

Footbridge, 4, won an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on May 23 for his second win this year. On Wednesday, trainer Eoin Harty said Footbridge was “60-40” to run in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Game On Dude worked alone Wednesday. Trainer Bob Baffert timed Game On Dude in 1:13, with a gallop-out time of 1:25.40 for seven furlongs. Jockey Martin Garcia worked Game On Dude, but Mike Smith has the mount for the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, run over 1 1/4 miles.

“Next week, I’ll give him a little breeze, and he’ll be ready to roll,” Baffert said.